CROMWELL >> In October, dozens of residents attended the second annual mayor’s ball, a night of music, food, good friends and good conversation.

But the real payoff of that glittering evening came on Tuesday, when two local organizations received donations of $1,500 each that were drawn from the proceeds of the ball. The presentations were made to the American Legion Post No. 105 and the Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center.

“This is what makes Cromwell so special,” Mayor Enzo Faienza said after the presentation ceremony, which was held mid-afternoon in the atrium of Town Hall.

The Legion is renovating Valor Green, the large triangular-shaped park that sits between Main Street and Prospect Hill Road, in the shadow of the Holy Apostles Seminary. The green was established to honor residents who served in the Korean War (1950 to 1953), which Faienza described as America’s “forgotten war,” and in Vietnam.

“It brings me nothing but pride and joy to give back to our veterans,” Faienza said after presenting an oversized replica check to Post Commander Lou Gagnon.

As he presented a similar one to the cancer center’s Director Justin Drew and Sarah Moore, the center’s director of development, Faienza praised the hospital’s work. Either directly or indirectly, “Everyone has been touched by cancer.”

The ball is cosponsored by the Cromwell Merchant’s Association and the cochairs of the CMA, Rodney Bitgood and Cara Ehlers, were on hand for the ceremony. “I’m honored to give a portion of the proceeds to the cancer center,” Ehlers said as she acknowledged the truth of Faienza’s observation about cancer’s impact.

“My father passed away six years ago from kidney cancer,” so the presentation had a special significance to her, Ehlers said.

Receiving the donation from the community had a particular impact on Drew also because he is a Cromwell resident.“It will certainly go to good use,” he said.

“On behalf of the members of our post, thank you all and especially you, Enzo. This sure will come in handy,” Gagnon said after receiving his check. “And I want to thank the town for helping us out,” he continued. “We’re off to a great start — but better things are to come,” he said, adding, “It will be tremendous.”

Ehlers said she was “privileged to honor our veterans,” adding she and the CMA have “already begun planning our third mayor’s ball.”

The Legion has built a wall on the green and will soon install five flag poles to honor the branches of the military: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.

For his part, Faienza described the CMA as “such a vital part of our collaboration,” a collaboration he said resulted in the presentation ceremony. “This is what it’s all about: presenting checks to two wonderful organizations,” the mayor said.

The ceremony “brings me such joy,” by honoring two organizations and in doing so, “giving back to our community — a town I love so much,” Faienza said.